Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Oxford, MS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.8% of gross income.

Oxford rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Oxford median rent
$2,338/mo
Police Officer salary (Mississippi)
$62,589/yr
Rent as % of income
44.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,216, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,565/mo in rent. Oxford's median rent of $2,338 exceeds that threshold by $773/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 77.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a police officer salary

The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Oxford, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Madison, MS
$2,292/mo (43.9% of income)
Madison, MS
$2,254/mo (43.2% of income)
Madison, MS
$2,253/mo (43.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oxford

View full rent data for Oxford, MS →

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Oxford, MS?

Median rent in Oxford is $2,338 a month. A typical police officer in Mississippi earns about $62,589 a year, which makes that rent 44.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a police officer afford in Oxford?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Mississippi (~$62,589/yr) supports up to $1,565 a month in rent. Oxford's current median rent is $2,338/mo, which is $773/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Oxford?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a police officer in Mississippi works roughly 77.7 hours a month to cover Oxford's median rent of $2,338.

Where is rent cheaper than Oxford for a police officer?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Madison ($2,292/mo), Madison ($2,254/mo), Madison ($2,253/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Mississippi state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Oxford, MS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.